When you can't ride, bake.

I am so excited. Matt bought me a full-suspension mountain bike yesterday! Perhaps he knows my stress level and wants me to take out my frustration on mother nature instead of him. Whatever the reason, I love it-- thanks schmoopydooppydoo.

So anyway, yesterday I hit the trails in comfort.

Keep an eye out for me at the next Extreme Games.

This is my stunt double. Squint and pretend it is me.

Well peeps, the end of July in Summit County brings the "monsoon season" which translates to rainy afternoons. Since I could not ride my bike today, I decided to make a sausage pizza instead. That makes perfect sense right?

I have a recipe for perfect pizza crust that is soooo easy (and no kneading and no rise time required).  I make this recipe all the time and it is no fail and delicious.

Quick and easy pizza crust.

1 cup warm water
1 package rapid rise yeast
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2-1 tsp. garlic salt (I love garlicky and salty so I add one whole teaspoon, but you may like less)
about 2.5 cups flour

Directions: Preheat oven to 475. Dissolve yeast in water, add olive oil,  honey, garlic salt  (hint: if you add the olive oil before the honey,  the honey will glide off the oiled measuring spoon). Add the flour a bit at a time until the consistency is soft and doughy but not sticky or stiff. Then just let it sit for a few minutes while you get your toppings ready.

For this pizza:

I sauteed 1/2 pkg. leftover breakfast sausage, and then added sauteed mushrooms and onions and 1 chopped jalapeno.

After I did that, I rolled out my dough and plopped it on an ungreased pizza pan (I have a stone but I like the pan better).

I don't like too much sauce, so I just poured about 1/3 large jar marinara sauce, added my toppings and then topped with one bag of shredded Italian cheese. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the crust is as brown as you like. I know 475 sounds high, but trust me, your crust will not brown properly unless you have a very hot oven.

Enjoy! Oh and don't forget the grated parm and crushed red pepper. You need that for the authentic takeout experience.

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Strictly Fun Summer To-Do List

Ya'll  know I love a good party right? Well, I have finally taken the plunge and joined  this week's writing party over at Mama Kat's.


The writing prompt I chose is:

30 things you vow to do this summer.

I don't want to commit myself to anything chore-oriented, so I am vowing only to have fun in the following 30 ways.

1. Make old-fashioned hand-churned (and by "hand" I mean "electric")  ice cream. I am thinking blueberry cheesecake and butter pecan.

2. Get my backyard gardens going. I have strictly been a front yard girl thus far.

3. Run (when my ankle is back 100%).

4. Go on at least four new hikes from the Summit Hiker. Someday I will do them all. I always make a little notation of the date and who I went with (including which dogs we took) but I still have a long way.

5. Start writing a memoir and work on that a little each day.

6. Rent a convertible and take a Colorado road trip. Maybe Mesa Verde or Steamboat?  Matt can drive and I vow just to look cute. Note to self: Buy a sassy scarf to wear around my head.

7. Eat more fresh foods (does homemade ice cream count? what if I milk the cow?).

8. Steal Gather more moss for my pond.

9. Ride our tandem bike down Vail Pass with our dogs in the baby wagon.

10. Have at least one bbq/fire pit bash.

11. Host Girl's Keeno in July.

12. Paint my toenails a fun color. Maybe blue or green or silver.

13. Call my 90 year old grandmother more often and send her a few letters while I am at it. She is my only living grandparent : (

14. Book a late fall trip to Cozumel to visit my dad (and his Irish bar, Kelley's).

 40th B-day in Cozumel

15. Go to a Rockies game and have a hotdog.

16. Visit my in-laws in Fort Collins and play a lot of cards and drink a lot of Coors Light in their sunroom.

17. Take the water taxi from Frisco to Dillon and have a RumRunner or a Dark & Stormy at the Tiki Bar.

18. Go to the Keystone Jazzfest.

19. Go to all (or most) of the free summer concerts at the Dillon Amphitheater, including Jimmy BLuffet.

20. Make a new friend.

21. Sit on my porch and just look at the mountains.

22. Play a game of golf with Matt (not on the Wii).

23. Go fishing.

24. Make fried chicken and a pie and go on a picnic at the lake.

Photo: FoodNetwork.com

25. Redecorate my office if the mood strikes.

26. Go to both the Frisco (June) and Dillon (August) BBQ challenge.

27. Less Perez Hilton, more Murphy. That is, get my bo-hiney off the internets and take my dogs on more walks (btw I haven't used the word  "bo-hiney" since elementary school. You can reverse it and say "hiney-bo"-- it means the same thing. At least it does in Oklahoma)

28. Buy new pillows and silk pillow cases (will that prevent face wrinkles?).

29. Walk the entire shoreline of Lake Dillon (not all at once, of course). Matt and I came up with this one at the end of last summer. 

AND FINALLY,

30. Have a few Friday night dance-offs in my living room. So what if I am the only participant? I have three spectators (if you count the dogs) that think I am fabulous! Plus, I win every time.

31. Oh wait, I have one more (that's right. I am a rule-breaker). Celebrate my wedding anniversary with Matt on August 20. 


Hope your summer is off to a booty shakin start,

Thrifty Doodle Dandy

Since I am unable to train for the Ironman 2010 like I had planned (thanks to an ankle injury sustained while walking), I thought I would have time to get in a quick post today. 

I was at the Goodwill a few months ago (don't act so surprised) and I found this really neat unopened "Mail a Flag to a Friend" kit. It looks like it may have been something that sold in the  1960's. I have been waiting for the appropriate time to open it up and see how it looks. Matt put it together for the Memorial weekend. It was a nice sized cloth flag with pole, etc. I paid $3.99 for it. How is that for a good American value?

I know. I know. Our Aspens still are without leaves.  We are working on it.  At least it did not snow.

Anyway, it all came in this little box that had a mailing section (not pictured) where you could sent it to a friend.   I thought it was pretty neat.

Pre-ankle injury I was working on loosely copying this look from the cover of the June issue of Country Living.  I have some old bi-fold doors that I plan on using to make the shutters.

I have already been thrifting and digging out paint cans.  I can't wait to get it finished.  It's gonna be cute ya'll.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Linking to Rhoda's  Thrifty Treasures.

I Guess I won't be Unicycling Today.

What a frustrating weekend on many, many levels.

On Sunday, I had plans to do something in the afternoon, so Matt and I  decided to take the dogs on a quick and easy hike in the morning. It was so nice outside, we had to let them be a part of it.


After going down to the marina, we pulled off the road for an easy hike up to the Old Dillon Reservoir. The  views are breathtaking and there is a calm little pond that the dogs can swim in.  


In my sprint up the mountain, I tripped over a rock and completely rolled my ankle.  


So here I sit.  

How is it that my foot actually looks mentally challenged? Weird, huh?

I did not get any pictures on our hike because I only went about half way up. arrrrggghhh!  Am I going to be able to do anything all summer? I have never sprained my ankle in all my years of being upright. That includes my wild trips to Mazatlan during spring break back in the day.  How did I make it back in one piece then yet I somehow manage to trip over a 2 inch rock completely sober? I want to cry. Feelin sorry for myself. Boo-hoo.


Here is a description of the trail from the Town of Dillon website.

The .75 mile trail begins at an elevation of 9,066 feet and ends at an elevation of 9,193 feet, with a highest elevation of 9,203 feet. The elevation gain is +127 feet. The trail difficulty is rated EASY. This trail is used for multiple activities, including hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and nordic skiing so please respect other users. 

Here is view of the lake (not taken by me):

Why do I have to be such a spaz? I really, really need my ankle to function the way it is supposed to. It is an important part of my life. I pretty much use it every day. I want to work on my yard or do something with my dogs. Matt and I  bought flowers and trees to plant, but I am stuck on my bootie.

Matt said: "Well you can still do women's work. A lot of it is on your hands and knees."

He is just saying that because he knows that I can't run after him. I am really trying to figure out a way to kick him with only one fully functioning leg.  Wasn't there a scene like that in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail?" That gives me a good idea about what I should watch on Netflix. It is not wasting time, it is "blog research" or a study on "marital conflict resolution." One of those.


To make matters worse, I saw these little girls riding down my street on unicycles while wearing flip-flops. I am not even lying. Now that takes coordination.

I would not be so mad if I had hurt my ankle doing something cool like unicycling or bungee jumping. Regular old sober walking/falling is not a very good story. FYI: everyone in my neighborhood is super athletic (including the kids apparently).  So I will really need to make up a good story. Either that or move somewhere where all the peeps are mega couch potatoes. I am thinking Houston.

But don't you worry my pretties.  I have a laptop and can still blog.  So there! And I can bark orders at Matt. I haven't sprained my tongue after all. 

Living in a Ski Resort has led me to a Life of Crime.

Yes, I know it is summer and all,  but I have something wintery to share with you. What can I say, my inspiration is season-blind.

If you can't tell by my non-talk blabber about snow and snow and more snow, I live in a ski resort area. And when I say "ski" I really mean "snowboard." Yes, I am one of those. An old one of those.

Me and my niece Sam at Keystone last year.

I grew up skiing, but did not learn to snowboard until I was in my 30's (I am currently 41 in case you are curious). Trust me, it was not easy or without both physical and mental pain. I felt like such a dumb ass riding up the bunny lift with all the little rug-rats. I could feel them sticking their little tongues out at me.  I am certain the older ones were flipping me off under their tiny mittens.

There was a lot of "down" time if you know what I mean.

Sadly, I was merely snowshoeing (which is basically walking) in this photo. A picture speaks a thousand words. In this instance, "Spaz," "Uncoordinated" and "Hopeless" are three of them.

Anway,  if you have ever tried to snowboard, you will be amazed by this little show off (and the reason for my off-season post).




Brat! But it is giving me ideas about Murphy and a chihuahua snowboard lesson next winter. Do you think I would have to buy him a pass?


Oh well. This is more my speed.

I know I look innocent and all, but I was really breaking the law in the above photo.  Matt has got me involved in the criminal sport of hot-tub crashing. Fo real.  There are tons of resorts that have fabulous pool areas that we like to crash.  Put a couple of cocktails in a sippy cup and off we go.  Local teens are always getting in trouble doing this sort of thing, but no one ever expects the "wealthy" looking middle aged couple (I bring my fake Louis V. as a prop).  It is one of the few instances it pays to be old! Oh, and to Lorraine: I don't want to be featured in one of your Monday Morals Question. I know it is wrong. I just can't help myself. 

Xenu and Baby Snatchers are on my nerves today

I am in a crappy mood today. It is snowing again and my work is driving me crazy. Luckily, I found this blog-hop to participate in. It is a place where I can safely tell the world to suck it. Not you, of course. I am mainly talking about these three fools.



1. Kelly Preston is allegedly pregnant. Uh, look hag, you are 47 (no offense to non-Scientologist ladies in their late 40s who are not with child). You pretty much killed your last kid with all your Scientology nonsense. No more please. Unfit. I don't care if you can afford 10 nannies.Your son had severe autism, he was not overrun by body thetans. All the auditing in the world and prayers to Xenu could not help him. It not only hurt him, it probably killed him.  You do not need to be on the cover of People Magazine, you need to be in a psych ward!

2. Our brilliant District Attorney is charging two ladies with felony impersonation for switching numbers during a bike race. He is the genius behind the Kobe Bryant waste of time prosecution and he also once charged a guy with a felony for throwing a snowball at a acquaintance (among other ridiculous things). Term limits are a good thing.

From 9 News (Denver). I am not including their full names because the whole thing is BS.


One racer, Katie B. , allegedly entered her name in the 40 to 49 year old women's heat, but had 36-year-old Wendy L.race for her. L. then took second place for B.. . . It is not like the racers were trying to win prize money, cash prizes are not awarded in the Leadville 100. Everyone who finishes gets the same thing: a Leadville Trail 100 silver belt buckle. District Attorney XXX  XXXX (editors note: I am X-ing his name out since I am sure he googles himself every day and I practice law here. I don't want to be on his shit list) says he still had to file charges. "I'm not sure of their motives either, but they did assume another persons identity, and one person gained a benefit from that," XXXXX said. It means both women are now facing felony charges for criminal impersonation, but will likely get that knocked down to a lesser charge.

The coveted prize for first and last and everything between.

If they did something so awful why are you reducing the charges, Mr. XXXX?  If it is not a big deal, why are you even charging them at all?  I smell a big fat media whore.

Now that his term is coming to an end, he is going to run for state office of some sort. Quit sucking on the public tit and get yourself real job a-hole.

3. Haiti let Laura Silsby, a whacko, "religious" child snatcher/baby seller out of jail. If she was stealing white babies somewhere, she would be in the pokey for the rest of her life. She will probably write a book saying God was directing her, sell it to the Palin crowd and become a millionaire. I hope I run in to her someday so I can taser her ass.

.

There you have it people, my top three irritants of the moment.

Have a sane day,

Mud is the Reason for the Season

It is "mud season" here at the Summit. Mud season is the high-country phenomenon where it could be 60 degrees and sunny or it could snow at any minute (on our recently exposed earth). Mud is the result. Uggghh!!! What to wear?

My mom came by my house today. She and I do not agree on politics or religion, but apparently we are in agreement about mud season fashion.

 Unintentional Twinkies

Later, I made some fish tacos. It was a new thing for me.  It reminds me of being on a beach somewhere. I can pretend, right?

 The End.

Hope you are having a happy mud season.

No need to be truthful

We had some big news here in the county. There was a forest fire behind the high school on Monday that may in fact still be smoldering. My son called me after school while at Alg2 tutoring to tell me that I should probably come get him as the school was on fire. Sure enough there was a raging forest fire fueled by the abundance of dead beetle kill trees. On the Denver TV news (don't remember which one) it was reported that no kids were in the school at the time of the fire (the fire started a little before 3pm). Granted we are a small community --but we do have after school activities like athletics etc. Then our newspaper (Summit Daily) reported that some 892 kids were evacuated and bussed home. My son pointed out that by "evacuated" they meant that the last bell rang for the day and the kids took their normal bus home. In truth there were about 60 kids evacuated when I picked my son and niece up from the school. I guess if you live at a high enough altitude, people figure that it doesn't really matter if you get the story right or not. By the way the kids had a "fire" day on Tuesday to let the building air out.